# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2004_S250 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 250 STRUCTURE, PLANNING, AND ADMINISTRATION Resolved, That the 2004 Synod convention create a task force as follows: 1. A special Constitutional Task Force of nine people be appointed as follows: «4 members (2 laypersons and 2 pastors) appointed by the Synod President ¢4 members (2 laypersons and 2 pastors) appointed by the Synod Board of Directors * 1 member (layperson to serve as task force chair) appointed by the Council of Presidents 2. The task force be charged to do the following: a. Draft and present to the congregations a proposed revised Constitution and Bylaws by Jan. 1, 2006. b. Secure widespread congregational input as well as input from all synodical entities and offices during the drafting process. c. Present a new proposed Constitution and Bylaws to the 2007 convention for action. d. Consider the following objectives: ¢ Maximize organizational time and talent to proclaim the Great Commission and minimize organizational time and talents to internal organizational matters ¢ Streamline decision-making * Minimize layers of organizational bureaucracy * Create fair congregational representation and avoid minor- ity control e. All task force decisions to be made by simple majority vote, with all nine task force members having voting privileges. and be it further Resolved, That the Board of Directors allocate sufficient finan- cial resources to support the work of the Constitutional Task Force; and be it finally Resolved, That the task force be disbanded at the conclusion of the 2007 synodical convention, King of Kings Omaha, NE 7-04 To Return to Original Constitution of Synod WueREAS, The Synod under its original 1847 Constitution grew to be one of the largest Lutheran synods in the world; and WHEREAS, The Synod under its original 1847 Constitution had an active and dynamic evangelism program; and WHEREAS, The Synod under its original 1847 Constitution had a simple, fair, and decisive dispute-arbitration process; and WHEREAS, Under its original 1847 Constitution the Synod’s pri- mary duties included the following: “To stand guard over the purity and unity of doctrine within the synodical circle, and to oppose false doctrine; Supervision over the performance of the official du- ties on the part of pastors and teachers of Synod; Common protec- tion and extension of the Church; The preparation of future preach- ers and teachers for service in the Church; To give theological opinions, also to settle disputes between single persons or between parties in the congregations”; and Whereas, The Synod was able to complete her goals and her mission in a God-pleasing manner under a simple form of church governance; therefore be it Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod amend its Constitution to return it to the 1847 Constitution and Bylaws in order to regain our mission, peace, and tranquility. Crookston Circuit Forum Minnesota North District 7-05 To Reaffirm Constitutional Structure of Synod WHEREAS, The LCMS has in its Constitution and Bylaws very clearly delineated the respective responsibilities of its officers and board, giving ecclesiastical supervision to the President and under him the Vice-Presidents and other officers, the interpretation of the Constitution and Bylaws to the CCM, property, business, and legal affairs to the Board of Directors, and specific responsibilities to other boards, commissions, etc.,—all accountable to the Synod convention; and WHEREAS, This balanced organizational structure has served the Synod admirably for many years; therefore be it Resolved, That the Synod in convention strongly reaffirm its es- tablished constitutional structure; and be it further Resolved, That the Synod firmly reject any effort to undermine its constitutional structure in order to promote a political agenda; and be it finally Resolved, That the Synod seek to maintain its biblical and con- fessional faithfulness by means of the power and authority of God’s Word alone, and not by means of political maneuvering. Circuits 20 and 21 South Wisconsin District 7-06 To Amend and Restate Articles of Incorporation Rationale In a written opinion obtained from special outside counsel, the Board of Directors was advised that the Synod should include in its Articles of Incorporation a provision that will enable the Synod to take full advantage of allowances in Missouri non-profit corpo- ration law for indemnification of directors and officers. The Board forwarded this concern to the Commission on Structure with the request that the Commission, with the assistance of special legal counsel, prepare a proposal to amend the Articles to include such a provision. The Board of Directors also recognized that the Articles of In- corporation required additional amendment to reflect changes in the Synod since they were last amended in 1998. Special legal counsel recommended that these changes and the inclusion of the indemnification provision be accomplished by restating the Arti- cles to incorporate the changes. Upon receipt of the Board’s request and subsequent assistance from special legal counsel, the Commission on Structure proposes that the Articles of Incorporation of The Lutheran Church—Mis- souri Synod be amended and restated as follows: Resolved, That the Articles of Incorporation of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod be amended and restated as follows: PRESEN+/PROPOSED AMENDED AND TATED ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION OF THE LUTHERA! H— Article I Name, Duration, Registered Office, and Agent a. The name of this corporation shall be “The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.” b. The period of duration of the corporation is perpetual. c. The address of the registered office of the corporation is 1333 S. Kirkwood Road, St. Louis, Missouri. d. The name of the registered agent of the corporation is Article II Objectives The objectives of this corporation shall be: a. To unite in a corporate body the congregations of the Evangelical Lutheran Church that acknowledge and remain true